Today Show and Extreme Engineering Team Up to Donate Rock Climbing Walls to In Need Portland Youths

Portland, Oregon (PRWEB) June 22, 2009 -- Al Roker of NBC's Today Show annually travels the country and showcases 5 charities in 5 different cities. One of the charities that Al Rocker and the Today Show chose is called the Portland Parks Foundation. Extreme Engineering, the largest provider and manufacturer of portable rock climbing walls (http://www.extremeengineering.com/portable-climbing-walls.aspx) in the world, has donated two rock climbing wall (http://www.extremeengineering.com/rock-climbing-walls.aspx) products and Speed Harnesses to the Portland Parks Foundation on behalf of the Today Show!

The Portland Parks Foundation provides safe parks, after school activities, and week long summer camps for kids aged 1 to 100 in Portland's inner city. The kids attend over 12,000 after school programs through Portland Parks & Recreation, mastering everything from computers to kazoos. Many community centers are outdated and serve purposes for which they were never intended, and critical maintenance is left undone for lack of funds. Park expansion is lagging frighteningly behind growth. Since 1970, the population has increased by 50% and active park space only 5%. These are kids that are in desperate need, and a large number of volunteers from the Foundation return to mentor the younger kids each year. To learn more and donate, visit http://www.portlandparksfoundation.org.

Al Roker and the "Lend a Hand" crew will be on location in Portland on Tuesday, June 23rd to discuss the rock climbing walls (http://www.extremeengineering.com/rock-climbing-walls.aspx) donated to the Portland Parks Foundation. At each "Lend a Hand" stop, Roker will spend time at the city's charitable organization and introduce its efforts to Today viewers. Then Roker, with the help from several generous companies, including Extreme Engineering, Columbia Sportswear Company, Nike, Chrysler, Lowes, General Mills, JC Penny and Scholastic will present the charity with scores of essential items it needs to continue helping and serving its community. For this year's trip, Today has so far raised nearly $850,000 in donations with more on the way! After each stop, viewers will be directed to TODAYshow.com for more information on each organization and how they can lend a hand.

About Portland Parks Foundation:

Portland Parks Foundation was established in 2001 on the recommendation of the Parks 2020 Vision - a study of the 20-year needs and objectives of Portland Parks & Recreation. PPF goals are twofold: To create a parks expansion fund to ensure that all neighborhoods have access to parks and green spaces, and to provide financial aid to low-income youth in the face of shrinking public funding. Every year, kids aged 1 to 100 attend over 12,000 after school, evening and summer classes through Portland Parks Foundation, mastering everything from computers to kazoos. Visit Portland Park Foundation (http://www.portlandparksfoundation.org/) to learn more.

About Extreme Engineering:

Extreme Engineering is the industry leader of portable rock climbing wall manufacturers (http://www.extremeengineering.com/mobile-climbing-wall-manufacturer.aspx). With over 14 years in experience and being the original creators of the mobile rock climbing walls and auto-belay systems, Extreme Engineering has been globally recognized as the primary supplier in portable climbing walls and extreme, interactive fun. Visit Extreme Engineering (http://www.extremeengineering.com) to learn more.

About the Today Show:

The Today Show is a morning news and talk show airing weekday mornings on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre, spawning similar morning news and entertainment television programs across the United States and around the world. The show is also the third-longest running American television series. Originally a two-hour program on weekdays, it expanded to Sundays (currently one hour) in 1987 and Saturdays (two hours) in 1992. Visit the Today Show (http://today.msnbc.msn.com/) to learn more.

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